If there’s one thing millennials can agree on, it’s this: we were the generation that started it all when it comes to living life through a screen. We grew up on dial-up connections, AIM chats, early cell phones and watched the tech world explode into what it is today. From MySpace and sidekicks to iPhones and TikTok, we’ve seen every upgrade, and we’ve carried those screens with us into adulthood, relationships, and even our sleep routines.

But the constant connection that once felt exciting can now feel exhausting. Notifications never stop, news feeds never end, and for many of us, the line between work, social life, and personal downtime is more blurred than ever. That’s exactly why a digital detox is no longer just a trendy phrase, it’s something we actually need.

A digital detox is about taking intentional breaks from our phones, laptops, and endless tabs. It’s a chance to give our brains and bodies a reset, reclaim our focus, and reconnect with the world (and people) around us, no notifications required. Research backs it up: too much screen time can mess with your sleep, increase stress, and drain your ability to truly be present.

That’s where Courtney Woods, an award-winning website developer and founder of PC Media Techs, comes in. This summer, she’s making it easier for families and millennials juggling work, family, and nonstop screens to unplug. Through her community initiative, PC Empowerment, Courtney is hosting a Back to School Digital Detox Week from July 24 through August 5.

The timing is perfect. Alabama’s new FOCUS Act goes into effect this fall, limiting cell phone use in K–12 classrooms a major move to help kids focus better in school. But as Courtney reminds us, healthy digital habits start at home.

Her week of free events includes an After Work Mixer for Digital Mental Health, a Community Fun Day, a “Your Relationship With Your Phone” Webinar, and a 7-Day Detox Countdown. And when school is back in session, Courtney will take her mission inside classrooms as a Digital Mental Health Facilitator for Bessemer City Schools with plans to expand into more schools and even workplaces ready to support digital wellness.

So if your phone has been running your life lately, maybe it’s time to unplug even if just for a week. Your brain (and your sleep schedule) will thank you for it.